Daily Current Affairs

Maruti Suzuki India inaugurated India’s largest automobile in-plant railway siding at its Manesar plant (Haryana).

Built at a cost of ₹452 crore, the facility is aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and forms part of the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor.

Key Impact:

• Dispatch capacity: 4.5 lakh vehicles annually
• CO₂ reduction: 1.75 lakh tonnes per year
• Fuel savings: 60 million litres annually
• Target: 35% rail-based dispatches by FY 2030–31

The Government of India announced a ₹3,000 FASTag Annual Pass for private vehicles (cars, jeeps, vans), effective 15 August 2025.

The pass allows 200 trips or one year validity, whichever comes first.

Objective:

• Reduce toll disputes
• Encourage digital tolling
• Ease travel on closely spaced toll plazas

Activation will be available via Rajmarg Yatra App and NHAI/MoRTH platforms.

Bihar became the first Indian state to introduce mobile-based e-voting, to be used in municipal elections from 28 June 2025.

Developed by: C-DAC and Bihar State Election Commission

Key Features:

• Blockchain security
• Biometric verification
• Live face scan
• End-to-end audit trail

The system enables voting by migrant workers, senior citizens, pregnant women, and Divyang voters.

India hosted the first assembly of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) in New Delhi, strengthening global cooperation for big cat conservation.

The Reserve Bank of India revised commission rates for banks handling government business, effective 1 April 2025.

Revised Rates:

• Electronic revenue transactions: ₹12
• Pension payments: ₹80

India’s unemployment rate increased to 5.6% in May 2025, largely due to post-harvest slowdown in rural employment.

Female labour force participation declined to 27.8%, while youth unemployment rose across regions.

OpenAI signed a $200 million contract with the US Department of Defense to develop AI tools for national security and military operations, with project completion targeted for July 2026.

The UN General Assembly declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, recognising women’s critical role in agriculture and food security, especially in developing countries.

Vietnam became the 10th BRICS partner country, allowing participation in BRICS summits and working groups without full membership or voting rights.

INS Arnala, India’s first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), was commissioned at Visakhapatnam.

Built by GRSE in partnership with L&T, it features 80% indigenous content and enhances coastal anti-submarine capability.

The 8th edition of Exercise Shakti commenced in France, with a 90-member Indian Army contingent.

The exercise focuses on counter-terrorism operations under UN Chapter VII.

China launched Zhangheng 1-02, a seismo-electromagnetic satellite, to improve early warning for earthquakes, tsunamis, and extreme weather.

Indian researchers developed PEGylated nano-cups for photothermal cancer therapy, offering a non-toxic, targeted treatment method for advanced cancers.

Team MGD1, led by GM Arjun Erigaisi, became the first Indian-sponsored team to win the FIDE World Rapid Team Championship 2025 in London.